WHEAT — CULTURAL METHODS 327 



Burgess, in discussing the fertilization of wheat on the 

 Piedmont soils of North Carolina, says: 



_''A good appUcation of fertilizer for wheat is 300 to 600 

 pounds per acre. Where the land has been well prepared 

 and is in good condition, it will pay to fertihze Uberally. 

 As a rule, the fertihzer should be applied in the fall at the 

 time of seeding. Good results will be obtained from the 

 use of one-half the nitrogen in the fall along with the 

 phosphoric acid and potash and the other half as a top 

 dressing in the spring after growth has well started from 

 nitrate of soda or sulphate of ammonia. Where wheat or 

 other small grain has been grown in one of the rotations 

 suggested above or similar ones with soil-improving crops, 

 one-half of the nitrogen in the mixtures may be omitted 

 after the rotation has been repeated one or more times, 

 and may be left out altogether after sufficient organic 

 matter, or humus, has been stored in the soil to produce a 

 sufficiently large development of stalk for a good crop of 

 grain. In this case a top dressing of 75 to 100 pounds per 

 acre of nitrate of soda may be given just about the time 

 the plants begin to joint in the spring if the crop is not 

 found growing off nicely." ^ 



CULTURAL METHODS 



401. Preparing the seed-bed. — The ideal seed-bed 

 for wheat is one that is thoroughly pulverized, well com- 

 pacted, with a loose mulch on the surface and with a good 

 contact with the subsoil. To accomplish the above re- 

 sults, the land should be plowed as early as practicable 

 after the previous crop has been removed. Following 

 plowing, the disk and smoothing harrow should be used 

 liberally to destroy clods, keep down grass, and to aid the 

 1 N. C. Dep't of Agr. Bui., whole no. 159, vol. 32, No. 10. 



